The Portrayal Of An Issue Like Mental Illness - 1328 Words

It is easy for an audience to be manipulated by the media. The portrayal of an issue like mental illness is totally vulnerable to misrepresentation. Depending on who is writing and their viewpoint, it does not take much to make this issue sympathetic or demonized. If the author of a given piece wants his or her audience to demonize something, the author might use the word isolation†. If that same author wants a sympathetic response he might use the word loneliness†. As far as the New York Times is concerned, they opted for a stereotypical portrayal. It is true that Lanza is indeed a mass murdered, but must the story fit the profile now that the deed is done? Apparently, for the New York Times, it must.Accoring to Margaret Price, she is making the same point of how the media represent disabilities. She says the accounts that the media inflect public myths about mental disability, race, class, nationality and gender ... For example, in the headline of Alison Leigh Cowanâ₠¬â„¢s story, she uses the terms, Mental Problems instead of mental issues. If this story were about a man like Adam Lanza saving someone instead of killing someone, the Times might have used the word issues â€Å"instead of problems . Also Price points out, the general choice of what to include in the headline is biased toward the sensational or what fits in with the myth†. Why include the word shooting at all? The reason is obvious. It is meant to attract the reader and it also serves to prejudice him/her atShow MoreRelatedThe Portrayal Of Mental Illness962 Words   |  4 PagesPortrayal of mental illness in media, films and television programmes is extensive and predominantly preserves myths and stereotypes about mental illness. People with mental illness are most commonly shown as being violent and aggressive, but they are also frequently depicted as tragic, tortured, genius, dangerous, eccentric, flamboyant, hysterical, sexual, jokers and rebels. Mental health profession als are variously portrayed as incompetent, sinister, unrealistically seductive or rationalist foilsRead MoreMental Illness And The Media1540 Words   |  7 PagesIn the media when you hear the word â€Å"mental illness† most of the time its associated with words like â€Å"dangerous,† â€Å"monster,† or better yet â€Å"psychopath†. Shawn M Phillips in â€Å"mental illness in popular culture† (p.64) states that at the end of the day, â€Å"mental illness and disabilities are all just clustered into one vague group of â€Å"deviants† by popular culture.† This is not to say it isn t ever associated with positive words like â€Å"beautiful,† â€Å"normal,† and â€Å"kind. The media should be flooded with moreRead MoreThe Stigma Of The Mentally Ill1498 Words   |  6 Pagesviolent, incompetent, or weird. Even without the negative stereotypes, there are some who consider mentally ill people a burden on society simply beca use they don’t believe mental illnesses are actual diseases. For the people like myself who haven’t had any interactions with the mentally ill, we get our information about mental illness from mass media. The media is of no help to the mentally ill either, though the media may occasionally portray a mentally ill character as quirky or bighearted, they areRead MoreThe Media And Federal Government1619 Words   |  7 Pages Mental and Social Disorder One in every seventeen people in America suffers from a mental disorder. These disorders inhibit the afflicted person from functioning properly and coping normally with daily life. Many afflicted with a psychological disorder do not exhibit obvious symptoms, as medical advancements have made it possible for these disorders to be suppressed or even nonexistent. Today, however, harsh stigmas exist that unfairly categorize those with a mental illness as violent, unfriendlyRead MoreAnalysis Of Pat Solitano ( Bradley Cooper )1501 Words   |  7 PagesAfter eight months in a mental health facility, Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) is released back home with his parents. Pat realizes that he must have a new outlook on life to reconcile and be back together with his wife Nikki. He attempts to see the good (the silver linings) in all that he experiences. At dinner with his friends, Pat meets Veronica s sister Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence). It’s evident that sparks fly between Pat and Tiffany and she tries to connect with him but Pat’s only focus isRead MoreThe Media s Influence On Public Perception Essay1272 Words   |  6 Pagesbeliefs stem from the media and how Hollywood portrays fictional characters with mental illnesses. At which point there seems to be a common misunderstanding towards individuals suffering from a mental illness. When it comes to people suffering with mental health, doctors, schools, and everything in between seem to have either a positive or negative outlook on the subject. The stereotypes and misinformation of mental illnesses can lead to a delay in seeking medical help. The media’s influence on publicRead MoreEssay Media Madness1389 Words   |  6 PagesImages of Mental Illness, Americans tend to retrieve most their knowledge about mental illness through the mass media (Wahl 3). When it comes to mental illness, it is safe to say that much of society views the mentally ill as deviants who are capricious and potentially dangerous. Or at least, that is how they are sometimes portrayed in movies, books, music, magazines, etc. Those who are knowledgeable about the severity and seriousness of mental illnesses often view the media portrayals as offensiveRead MoreHealthy Minds Movie Analysis Essay1027 Words   |  5 PagesHealthy Minds Character Analysis 1. Using evidence, explain if Charlie has a mental illness? Describe the symptoms and behaviours that are specific to the mental illness that you believe he has. The behaviour that the main protagonist Charlie displays throughout the film indicate that he is suffering from a mental illness, possibly multiple ones. A deviant behaviour that he shows in the film is his tendency to confide in his diary instead of talking to the people around him. He refers to the diaryRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie Girl Interrupted 1252 Words   |  6 PagesGirl, Interrupted is a captivating and striking film about the struggle of coming to terms with mental health and overcoming personal obstacles to allow treatment and support. While the main character Susanna Kaysen stays in the Claymoore psychiatric hospital, she is introduced to a whole new world, one where she is forced to confront the fact that she has a mental illness and needs professional help. The film begins with Susanna and the other girls from the hospital sitting in somber silenceRead MoreSarah and Angela The Many Misconceptions and Misunderstandings of Schizophrenia Misunderstood with1200 Words   |  5 Pagestruly understood and represented, from the effects of the disease to the availability of treatment. Favored by the media, incorrect and misleading portrayals of schizophrenics frequently appear in popular culture and entertainment, influencing people’s perceptions of the mental illness. Not at all rare and incredibly destructive, schizophrenia as mental illness lacks a very apparent public empathy and knowledge, a clear disadvantage and deterrent for victims of the condition. One of the most